some relief that at least one of my wishes appears to be coming true.
“I know you didn’t order more food, did you?” my mother asks with a wrinkle in her brow when there’s a knock at the door.
Shaking my head, I push the red and green throw blanket off my legs and head to the door to see who it is.
Peering through the peephole, I gasp when I see who’s on the other side.
“Resha?” I question as I pull the door open.
Resha, Mark’s sister-in-law, stands in front of me, smiling as she wraps her arms around the baby strapped to her chest.
“Connor’s parking,” she says.
Glancing over her shoulder, I see Mark’s brother getting out of their dark-colored SUV across the street.
“What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?”
“Mark.” She laughs, shrugging. “He told me to tell you it’s a little payback for me giving you his address.”
My frown deepens along with the wrinkle in my forehead. I’m still incredibly confused.
“Don’t hold the woman in suspense, astór. Tell her why we’re here.”
“Don’t rush me,” Resha says to Connor over her shoulder and rolling her eyes. Turning back to me, she says, “We’re here because Mark wanted us to drop off your dress for the New Year’s Eve party over at Townsend tonight. According to him, there’s a special announcement happening that you were instrumental in making happen. He insists you can’t miss it.”
I begin shaking my head when I realize what Resha is referring to. “I can’t.”
“Who’s at the door, sweetie? Oh, Resha, Connor,” my mother says as she comes up behind me.
“Good evening, Mrs. Hinkerson.”
“Come in,” my mother insists, pulling the door open farther. “What are you all doing here?”
“We’re here to spend the New Year’s with you while Jackie attends a crucial work function.”
“What? No, I can’t.”
“Why not?” my mother asks, and three pairs of eyes land on me.
Pushing out a breath, I run my hand through my hair, thinking it should be obvious. Aside from the fact that my mother is only a few days out of the hospital after trying to kill herself, I don’t have anything to wear, nor am I sure I’m even still invited to this thing.
“I brought you a dress. Mark said you might need one. He knew your size and everything. Also, Connor will drive you, and yes, you’re very much still invited,” Resha says, answering all of the questions running through my mind. “Come with me.” She doesn’t wait as she takes my arm into hers and pulls me down the hallway, away from everyone else.
Stopping in the middle of the hallway, she turns to face me with kind eyes. “Look, I know this is a little weird for you, but this would mean a whole lot to Mark. And considering everything he did for me while Connor and I were dating, I owe him.”
I stumble at first, trying to think of a retort. My heart feels torn in two. I want to see Mark more than anything, and the work we did with Cypress and Townsend means so much to me, but how can I leave my mother?
“Mama. She can’t be alone tonight.”
Resha shakes her head. “Alone? We wouldn’t think of leaving her by herself. Connor will take you to the party and then come back here where my little man and I will hang out with your mother. Trust me, I have an aunt who’s like my own mother, and I’d never want her to be alone while she was going through anything. Besides, I remember your mother took to Colin at Thanksgiving. I think she’ll enjoy our company.”
Remembering back to Thanksgiving, I recall how my mother’s eyes lit up as she held Colin briefly that night. That was before she’d gotten drunk.
“Less thinking and more getting ready,” Resha insists. “I’ll lay your dress out on the bed while you shower.”
It must’ve been my desire to see Mark after so many days of not seeing him, especially during the holidays. Also, a piece of me feels guilty. The 23rd of December is the anniversary of his accident. I planned on doing something special for him to create a good memory for us both. Obviously, that got utterly upended when I got home that morning.
Thus, with the primary focus of seeing Mark and somehow trying to make things up to him, I found myself getting into Connor’s vehicle, heading toward Townsend Industries.
“I didn’t like you at first.”
Blinking, I turn to face Connor, who’s staring straight ahead